Railway switch and lock mechanism



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,288

' J. R. MCKINNIS RAILWAY SWITCH AND LOCK MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l ilk newton QLR MnK-Lnnis Oct; 30, 1928.

J. R. MQKINNIS RAILWAY SWITCH AND LOCK rmcrmusm Filed June 23, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JRMcKh-mis J. R. M KINNIS RAILWAY SWITCH AND LOCK MECHANISM Oct. 30, 1928.

s S heetseSheet 5 Filed June 23, 1927 Patented Oct. 30, 1928.-

U N ITE D S TAT JOHN ROBERT MQKINNIS, OF SAN IBERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND LOGK MECHANISM.

Application filed June :23,

The invention relates to railway switch and lock mechanism therefor and provides means whereby a lever, or analogous part, when moved in one direct-ion, releasesthe switch, then throws the switchto theopposite position and finally locks the switch, the several movements being effected in successive, order without necessitating any pause or deviation in the movement of the lever or other switch operating element.

The invention provides a simple, positive and dependable means for throwing the switch and actuating the lock, said means embodying afew number of parts and readily operable from a convenient and determinate point.

WVhileithe drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understoodthat in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other cl'ianges in the minor details of construction may he resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to be had tothe following description an d the drawings hereto attached, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a railway switch and lock mechanism embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. 2

Figures 3, 1 and Z are plan views showing different positions of the switch and lock mechanism.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the switch stand.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the rack bar and pinion fast to the shaft for operating the switch, said shaft being in section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 10 designates the rails of the main track and 11 the rails of the siding or branch. The switch includes the movable points 12 which are connected by means of a bar 13 disposed beneath the rails and corn the switch is released.

1927. Serial No. 200,943.

nee-ted by means of a link 1a to an arm 15 fast to a vertical shaft-l6 mounted in a switch stand 17. A pinion 18 is fast to the shaft 16 and is adapted to cooperate with teeth 19 .and 20 projecting laterally from a rack bar 21 mounted in a housing 22 provided at the upper end of the switch stand 17. The shaft 16 isintermittently rota-ted during the movemerit of the rack bar .21 in each direction. Projections 23 extend outwardly from the rackbar 21 at opposite ends and are aperturedto receive the shackle of a padlock 2 1 whereby the rack bar is secured at the limit of its throw in each direction. The ends of the housing 22 are apertured to receive the projections 23.

A shaft 25 extends beneath the rails and switch points-and is provided with oifstandin g arms for operatin the lock mechanism. An arm 27 is fast to an end portion of the shaft 25 and is connected bymeans of a. link 28 to one end of a lever 29. A- s1aft30 .receives the lever 29 which is fast thereto, and a gear wheel 31 is fast to the shaft 30 and is in .lllQSll with the teeth ofthe rack bar 21. The shaft 30 and gear wheel 31 are disposed within an extension ofthe housing22.

The lock includes similar or like members 33 which are slidahly mountedupon the track rails and which are connected by means of links 3 1 to-the respective arms 26 of the shaft 25. Vlhen the rack bar 21 is at the limit of its movement in each direction the switch is locked. as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 5. During the initial movement of the lever 29 from ,eitherof its positions, shown inFigures 1 and 5, the shaft 25 isrotated and effects movement of the lock members 33 through the arms 26 and links 3 1, whereby During the movement ofthe lever 29, the shaft 30 is rotated and effects a longitudinal movement of the rack bar 21 through the gear wheel 31 and cog teeth 32. During the continued movement of the lever 29, the teeth 19 of the rack bar mesh with the teeth of the pinion 18 and rotate the shaft 1 (i -to throw theswitch in either direction according to the movement-of the lever 29. In the final movement of the lever 29, the teeth 19 clear the pinion 18 and the shaft 25 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to reset the lock mechanism and secure the switch in the adjusted position. The operation is the same whether the switch is thrown from either of the positions in Fig ures 1 and 5, the initial movement of the lever 29 releasing the switch, a continued movement of the lever reversing the switch and the final movement of the lever resetting the lock mechanism so as to secure the switch in the located position.

Within the purview of the invention, the lock members 33 may be of any construction so long as they serve to secure the switch points in either extreme position, as indicated in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings. The lock members 33 embody portions which embrace opposite sides of the track rails and are movabl longitudinally thereof to release. the switch as indicated in Figures 3 and i, or to secure the switch as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The dotted lines in Figures 3, 4i and 5, indicate the relative positions of the lever 29 during a complete movement of said lever in one direction to release the switch and reverse and secure the switch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a railway switch, the combination with the switch points and lock members therefor, of operating means including a rack bar, a coacting gear wheel. in mesh with the teeth of the rack bar, a pinion, teeth projecting from the rack bar and adapted to operate the pinion during a portion of the movement of the rack bar, a manually operable member for actuating the said gear wheel,

connecting means between said manually operable member and the lock mechanism, and connecting means between the said pinion and the switch, the parts being disposed so that during the initial movement of said manually operable member the lock mechas nism is actuated and in a continued movement the switch is thrown and in a final movement the lock mechanism is reset to secure the switch.

2. In combination with a railway switch and a lock mechanism therefor, of a manually operable member, connecting means between the manually operable member and the lock mechanism, and connecting means between said manually operable member and the switch, the same including a rack bar connected with said manually operable member, a pinion, and connecting means between said pinion and rack bar for operating the pinion during a portion of the movement of the rack war.

3. The combination with a railway switch and a lock mechanism therefor, of a transversely disposed shaft, connecting means between said shaft and the lock mechanism, a

manually operable member connected with the transverse shaft for direct movement of the lock mechanism, a vertical shaft connected with the switch, and connecting means between said manually operable member and the vertical shaftfor operating the lever during a portion of the movement of the manually operable member, said connecting means including a rack bar and coacting gear wheel and a pinion fast to the vertical shaft and adapted to be intermittently operated by means of said rack bar.

a. The combination with a railway switch and a lock mechanism therefor, of a manually operable member connected with the lock mechanism for actuation thereof, a rack bar connected with the manually operable member, and a member connected with the switch and adapted to be operated by means of said rack bar during a portion of its movement only, whereby the switch is released, then thrown, and finally mace secure.

5. The combination with a railway switch and a lock mechanism therefor, of a transverse shaft connected with the locl: mechanism for operating the same, a manually 0perable member connected with the transverse shaft, a rack bar, connecting means between the rack bar and the manually operable memher, a vertical shaft, connecting means between the vertical shaft and switch, and a pinion fast to the vertical shaft and adapted to be intermittently operated by means of the said rack bar during a portion of its movement only.

6. In combination with a railway switch and a lock mechanism therefor, of an operating member, connecting means between said operating member and the lock mechanism, and connecting means between said operating member and the switch, the same in cluding a rack bar actuated by said operating member, a pinion, and means projecting from said rack bar for operating the pinion during a portion of the movement of the rack bar.

7. The combination with a railway switch and fastener means therefor, of an operating member connected with the fastenermeans for actuation thereof, areciprocating member connected with the operating member, and a member connected with the switch and adapted to be operated by means of said reciprocating member during a portion of its movement only whereby the switch is released, then thrown, and finally made secure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN R. MGKINNIS. 

